Bubba is going on day 5 of a snotty nose and struggling to breastfeed - lucky I have been recpe testing plenty of lactogenic smoothies to keep my milk supply up. Breastmilk production is mostly stimulated suckling but this can be enhanced by lactogenic foods (galactagogues). Many wholefoods have milk supportive properties but the key ones include oats, flax/linseed, fennel, brewers yeast, blackstrap molasses, almonds and carrots. My favourite is fennel - you can grind the seeds, make a tea, juice a fennel bulb or use fennel tops. This smoothie pairs fennel with mint and cacao which tastes sensational! Makes 2 cups / 500ml.

Fearless Fennel and Chocolate From my book Homemade Smoothies For Mother and Baby out in July 20152 pears, quartered (must be soft and juicy)2 tablespoons hemp seeds3/4 cup any milk1 heaping teaspoon raw cacao plus tiny pinch of salt*3 sprigs mint leaves1 teaspoon ground fennel**3 ice cubes sweeten to taste*feel free to add more cacao if not pregnant or breatsfeeding as stimulating baby not an issue**Grind fennel seeds in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle if you cant find ground fennel.